Dennis and his Online Gaming Adventure!: Cyber safety can be fun [Internet safety for kids] - Paperback

by Helena Newton (Editor), Fanny Wen (Illustrator), Nina Du Thaler (Author)

Online gaming is one of the least-understood spaces children spend time in - and one of the most unguarded.
Strangers posing as teammates. In-game purchases dressed up as fun. Hours disappearing without warning. Most parents didn't grow up with MMORPGs, which makes the conversation about gaming safety genuinely hard to start. This book gives both children and parents the words, the knowledge, and the confidence to have it.

The Story

Dennis has discovered online gaming. And with it, a whole world Elle never knew existed.

Dennis has become a Warlock. Well, online anyway. He's deep into his first MMORPG - a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game - and he's loving every minute of it. But when Elle discovers he missed her swim meet because he lost track of time in the game, she starts asking questions. And what Dennis reveals about a suspicious player who tried to get his personal information is a reminder that the online gaming world, as exciting as it is, comes with real-world risks.

Told through Elle's curious and hilarious diary entries, this fifth book in the Diary of Elle series demystifies the world of online gaming for children - and their parents - in a way that is both fun and genuinely informative. From gaming lingo and loot boxes to cyberbullying, stranger danger, and screen time, Dennis and Elle tackle it all together.

An essential read for children aged 7-12 - especially those who already love gaming or are curious about the world of online multiplayer games.

What Children Will Learn

- What MMORPGs are and how online multiplayer games work
- How to recognise when someone online is not who they claim to be
- Why it's never safe to share personal information - like your full name, address or phone number - while gaming online
- How to block, mute, and report players who bully or behave inappropriately
- What loot boxes and in-game gambling mechanics are, and why they can be risky
- The importance of managing screen time and not letting gaming take over other commitments

Why Teachers and School Librarians Choose This Book

Teachers and school librarians choose this book because online gaming is one of the fastest-growing digital spaces children inhabit - yet it receives surprisingly little attention in children's cyber-safety literature. This book fills that gap with accuracy, warmth, and humour, covering topics from gaming terminology to online predators in a way that is age-appropriate and completely un-scary. It's an outstanding resource for digital citizenship programs, technology and media literacy units, and student wellbeing discussions - especially for children who are already enthusiastic gamers.

Perfect For

- Children aged 7-12 who play or are interested in online multiplayer games
- Parents who want to understand the world of online gaming and start conversations about safety
- Primary school classrooms exploring online identity, screen time, and digital wellbeing
- School libraries looking for cyber-safety books that speak to children's real digital interests
- Children who love adventure, storytelling, and a good mystery with a cyber twist

Cyber safety can be fun - and it starts with one brave story.
Explore all 5 books in the Diary of Elle series.